what I learned about God from our cats
Mar 17, 2018 11:49:03 GMT -6
Natalie, barb84, and 5 more like this
Post by gkp on Mar 17, 2018 11:49:03 GMT -6
I have been dealing with the effects of a bad cold lately and that has caused me to be awake at odd times and with odd thoughts. Hard to be overly spiritual when my head is stuffed up and crumby. last night I thought about our cats. Years ago we traded artwork for two ragdoll kittens and a couple years later we did it again and got two nephews of the two uncles. If you have not heard of this breed, the cats are mellow, easy going, sociable, and quite beautiful. We had wanted this type of cat after most of our previous cats had died. Because they came into our house two by two, they stayed bonded to each other. None of them was the least bit interested in becoming a lap cat. I missed a cozy big furball on my lap and eventually started a program of "training" the cats to become lap cats. I would pick up one at an vulnerable moment, carry him over to my recliner, and put him on my lap- all the while reminding the little critter how special and extraordinary he was while petting and scratching and anything else I could think up. The cat would tolerate my efforts while devising a polite way of escaping.I never tried to restrain the cat. They were completely free to go. Here is a breakdown on how things went:
Uncle #1 Oliver. This cat has always felt he should be the top of the food chain and Prince of the cats. He always makes sure the other three are towing the line, and when they overstep, he is quick to swat them. This got more complicated when one of his nephews got bigger than he was and Oliver got his clock cleaned a time for two. Oliver has always had a lot of pride and sense of dignity. At this point he still is not a lap cat. He will hang out on an end table right next to me, and he gets jealous of the other cats who actually have achieved lap cat status. Maybe he thinks too much. He just can't let his guard down and accept being my lap cat.
Uncle #2 Wendell. This guy is the cat equivalent of Jacob in the Bible. A bit of a schemer, and capable of surprising attacks on big dogs and unsuspecting companion cats. Always treated with respect by everyone. He was never my favorite but he has moved into the lap cat thing beautifully. He loves the attention and has claimed my lap as his territory. It makes it difficult to read my Bible or type to you guys. He is always there. We have drawn a lot closer. But if I step out of line and get a bit too casual, he will nip me and remind me who calls the shots. He also will come to me when he has a problem, and seek help. This is good.
NEPHEW #1 Bingley. He is the biggest of all and the grandest in look. A gorgeous gray and pearl, long hair , blue eyed, gentleman. But definitely not a lap cat. He will remove himself from my lap at first chance but not go far. He will happily sit near me . He loves attention and petting but on his terms. He grew up with food intolerances and we almost lost him early on. With medication and lots of care, he is doing fine. I think there is a bond here. He knows the pills we give him are for his own good but he still hides when he knows it is pill time.
NEPHEW #2 Benson. The little scrap of a cat with the timid personality, the biggest blue eyes, and the lowest position in the pack. A cat you just want to cuddle and nurture but the one who will squirm to get away as quickly as possible. Also the one who hates getting brushed and yet always has a lot of big matted areas in his fur. Benson has been my special project and he has blossomed under the effort. He will run for my lap when he is feeling needy and has found his own little pattern of receiving all the comlpiments and petting before he settles down and stares at me while purring very quietly. I have often thought I would be happy to spend eternity in the lowest place in heaven, if this little guy could be there with me. He is precious.
So what's the point of all this cat talk? Is it just the ramblings of a sick man with a tablet in one hand and a Kleenex in the other? I think not. The lesson for me is to somehow understand a bit more about how God might see us. He created us for His pleasure and wants our company. He has placed great value on us, even though we will never fully know everything about Him. We all have come from this fallen old world and bring some bad baggage with us. We see God through eyes that have seen a lot of bad things. Our ability to just settle down on His lap and rest comfortably in His presence might require a lot of gentle help from the Great Shepherd. He knows our frame and loves each of us with a special love. He wants us to be there on His lap but will not force us to remain. He nurtures our desire with just the right touch and just the right words. I am so glad that the best possible place to seek amidst the storms of life is the lap of our heavenly Father.
There is more I could write but perhaps this little bit might prove worthwhile to you. Thanks for letting me share. Now, where did I put that Kleenex?
Uncle #1 Oliver. This cat has always felt he should be the top of the food chain and Prince of the cats. He always makes sure the other three are towing the line, and when they overstep, he is quick to swat them. This got more complicated when one of his nephews got bigger than he was and Oliver got his clock cleaned a time for two. Oliver has always had a lot of pride and sense of dignity. At this point he still is not a lap cat. He will hang out on an end table right next to me, and he gets jealous of the other cats who actually have achieved lap cat status. Maybe he thinks too much. He just can't let his guard down and accept being my lap cat.
Uncle #2 Wendell. This guy is the cat equivalent of Jacob in the Bible. A bit of a schemer, and capable of surprising attacks on big dogs and unsuspecting companion cats. Always treated with respect by everyone. He was never my favorite but he has moved into the lap cat thing beautifully. He loves the attention and has claimed my lap as his territory. It makes it difficult to read my Bible or type to you guys. He is always there. We have drawn a lot closer. But if I step out of line and get a bit too casual, he will nip me and remind me who calls the shots. He also will come to me when he has a problem, and seek help. This is good.
NEPHEW #1 Bingley. He is the biggest of all and the grandest in look. A gorgeous gray and pearl, long hair , blue eyed, gentleman. But definitely not a lap cat. He will remove himself from my lap at first chance but not go far. He will happily sit near me . He loves attention and petting but on his terms. He grew up with food intolerances and we almost lost him early on. With medication and lots of care, he is doing fine. I think there is a bond here. He knows the pills we give him are for his own good but he still hides when he knows it is pill time.
NEPHEW #2 Benson. The little scrap of a cat with the timid personality, the biggest blue eyes, and the lowest position in the pack. A cat you just want to cuddle and nurture but the one who will squirm to get away as quickly as possible. Also the one who hates getting brushed and yet always has a lot of big matted areas in his fur. Benson has been my special project and he has blossomed under the effort. He will run for my lap when he is feeling needy and has found his own little pattern of receiving all the comlpiments and petting before he settles down and stares at me while purring very quietly. I have often thought I would be happy to spend eternity in the lowest place in heaven, if this little guy could be there with me. He is precious.
So what's the point of all this cat talk? Is it just the ramblings of a sick man with a tablet in one hand and a Kleenex in the other? I think not. The lesson for me is to somehow understand a bit more about how God might see us. He created us for His pleasure and wants our company. He has placed great value on us, even though we will never fully know everything about Him. We all have come from this fallen old world and bring some bad baggage with us. We see God through eyes that have seen a lot of bad things. Our ability to just settle down on His lap and rest comfortably in His presence might require a lot of gentle help from the Great Shepherd. He knows our frame and loves each of us with a special love. He wants us to be there on His lap but will not force us to remain. He nurtures our desire with just the right touch and just the right words. I am so glad that the best possible place to seek amidst the storms of life is the lap of our heavenly Father.
There is more I could write but perhaps this little bit might prove worthwhile to you. Thanks for letting me share. Now, where did I put that Kleenex?